New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-07
yoruryc left BUT GOOD INTENTIONS.

The free-tradc wing of the Independents
is tremendously chagrined by the CANDID con-
fess;on of Mr.. Curtis that Clcveland's Admin
istration, in respect OF Civil service reioInn'
Is q failure. The Free Traders left the Re
publican party in stolen clothes. They dldn
saw anything about free trade as the motiVe Oh
their desertion They saw body OF men VINO
from factiona or other prejudices were orllV-
ing away from the party, and they promptly
Joined them and seized the guiding reins OF the
movement But they kept discreetly quiet con-
corning free trade. and confined their appeals
and cycuses to the false issue of Civil Service
reform IT would have been death to the de-
fiction to hint at their heterOdox economy
Whatever strength the movement had was que
to fractional feeling and the gilded hope OF
reform.
Mr. Curtis has shown that that hope mas
hecn betraved. The Free Traders are now
alarmed lest the bottom drop out OF the whoic
Nngwunp movement and the body OF the IN
dcpendents return to their Old-time allegiance
Frantic appeals are being made to Mugwump
nr;de and the poor little straws which MI
rrrtis left in the shape of apologies and hopes
In the stream of his condemnation are graspeo
at with the energy OF despair. lheSe s'ra"'
are few and slight, but in spirit they arc eN-
pressions of faith in the Presidents goou mo
tives DESPITE his performances. Iney ciAiin
that his Civil Service, even IL IL De par.i'a"'
is at least busnesslike, and that thoueh nc
has bent before the hurricane OF Democia.i0
demand even to the extent OF changing 'hc
entire service, yet he has secured ehicieh'
officers and has therefore in some measure con-
tributed to the progress Of the reform sch'i-
ment
What a pitiful drop this is from the Mug
wump position in 1884. 1t WAS upon no su0l
for]orn representation OF what 0le'ei"n"
would accomplish that Republican voters were
seduced away from their party then. ii'Dd
that been the extent of the Mugwump clalm
the deserters would not have made corporal
cnard. The independent voters would nave
said. e." Our own party will do more Tor reform
fam that The service is already business
like, its officers are now efficient. Inc pos'a
and customs departments are Already nlV''
ab,v conducted. What VIC want Is man VINO
will extend the merit system, VINO VIII ouiu
IN the reform, not merely person WIN Soou
intentions and weak back. III that Is "h
Mr.. Cleveland will do, 1t is nothihg' anu
swecp-out of the present able service 10 MAKE
room for a horde Of Democrats Is not our
notion Of reform"
But the Free Traders and the raylng blalnc-
nbobiacs made a golden promise. No oniciai
was to be removed except for just cause eA-
cellcnt men were to be rcappointed when thelr
terms expired and the thorough reform Oh inc
service was to be made the cornerstone OF
the Administrations policy. 1t WAS upon thl'
distinct understanding, expressed over OIeNe-
lands signature that the Independents as
bodv gave him their votes. But he had not
boen we'll housed at the Capital before the
Rourbon screech was heard and the Demo-
cratic tiger began TO lash his tail. Soon hali
the offices were in tho hands OF Democrats
ON the ironical charge OF offensive partisan
ship The Mugwump leaders apooglzcd.
"That is not REFORM" they said, but IL Is
human. We mustn't expect too much soon
Eaton gave place to Obcrly, the reform itseif
was handed over to partisan manipulation,
and nothing now remains Of the alluring
fabric which attracted The Mugwump vote save
those things with which, a philosopher tcils
rs. the road to lost world is paved. Arc the
independents going to obey the false leaders
who bid them be satisfied with good lntcn-
tons? hlr. Eugene Higgins would be most
charmed to give the same ADVICE